Vessel.



A. & A. M. MODOUGALL.

VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED mums, 1912.

Patented D60.29,1914.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

ATTORNEY HE NORRIS PFrFRs CO FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. c

'* an snares Parana @FFJICE.

ALEXANDER MGDOUGALL AND ALEXANDER MILLER MUIDOUGALL, OF DULUTH,

MINNESOTA.

VESSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 191%.

Application filed aanuary 23, 1912. Serial No. 672,967.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER Mo DOUGALL and ALEXANDER MILLER McDon- GALL, citizens of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis'and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements "in Vessels, of which the followingis a specification, ref erence being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

Our invention relates to improvements in vessels, and pertains more particularly to vessels for navigating waters of moderate depth, such as canals, rivers and the like, which are spanned by numerous bridges or roadways and also larger bodies of Water as seagoing vessels.

The object is to provide a vessel adapted to such varied navigation requirements that is simple in construction and one readily and quickly adjusted to meet such requirements and that without jeopardizing the seaworthiness of the vessel or its carrying capacity.

Another object is to. produce a vessel capable of adjustment to the minimum vertical requirements in proportion to its hull capacity and still maintain its seagoing advantages. I

Still another object is to produce a vessel with the greatest; depth of side possible to give longitudinal strength and keep off the waves when at sea and provide the greatest cubical capacity'in a strong water-tight hull. having superstructures capable of minimum vertical adjustment when passing under bridges either light or loaded, thus producing a vessel that may be loaded some deeper when in a coasting trade than permissible in restricted water as described.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of our specification; Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved construction in the form of a self-propelled vessel as she would appear loaded and prepared for a sea voyage. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the vessel light and prepared for passage Within a canal beneath low structures such as bridges and the like. Fig. 4 is a modified form of our improved construction as applied to a tow barge showing her prepared for a sea voyage. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the towbarge loaded and prepared to pass under bridges or the like over a canal or river.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the hull of the vessel showing the relative position of the winch wells.

1n the case of the steamer, 1 represents the hull of the vessel, which at its stern is necessarily surmounted by a comparatively low superstructure 2 as crews quarters and for the housing of certain of the Working parts of the vessel.

3 represents the major portion of the upper deck of the hull of the vessel which near the forward end is stepped down forming the depressed or stepped deck 4 upon which are mounted and permanently fixed the smaller working elements such as timber heads, chocks, Windlasses and the like for use in controlling the movements of the vessel When mooring or being towed, and which elements do not extend above a plane level with the deck 3 so as to form no obstruction whatever in the Way of the vessel passing fixed upon either the deck 3 or the deck 4,

as desired, and mount upon it the required capstan and other manipulating elements for seagoing purposes. This turret and its appurtenances are made portable and vertically adjustable in any desired manner, preferably made in sections and capable of being stored away either within the hull of the vessel or upon the deck 4 by the use of the mast 5 and suitable block and tackle when the vessel is being navigated under bridges. The upper deck 6 of the superstructure 2 is also stepped at its rear portion 7, similar to and for the same purpose as thei orward stepped deck i, but this being the stern of the vessel in which is located and permanently carried the propelling mechanism of the vessel, the variation of draft is never so great as at the opposite end or bow, thus the extreme clearance is not required. As for instance, when the vessel is light the bow of the hull proper will be much higher out oi. the water than the stern, requiring greater clearance of head room at the bow than at the stern when navigating light under bridges which is clearly apparent in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

When the vessel is prepared for open Water navigation, above the deck 6 of the superstructure 2 is supported the stack 8, life rafts or boats 9 andpilot house 10. The stack 8 is preferably hinged at 11, whereby it maybe tipped over backward and lowered into the recess 12 in the superstructure 2 for the purpose and thus become fiushwith the deck 6. The pilot house 10 may be removed in 'a similar manner to the turret 5 or if preferred, may be lowered vertically into a suitably prepared compartment 18 by the use of block and tackle in connection with the movable mast 14 and the life boats or other -stricted navigation as elements removed from the deck 6 and placed either within the hull or upon the up per deck 3 thereof when it is desired to navigate restricted waters as referred to.

Mooring winches or windlasses 15 are suitably installed in depressions or wells 16 within the upper deck or hull in such a manner as not to projectabove the deck and yet materially assist in the mooring manipulations of the vessel by lines 17 leading in any desired direction and such wells or depressions may be covered by hatches when at sea.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is illustrated two barges of our improved construction having a stepped working deck at both ends of the vessel and also removable turrets at both ends whereby the barge may be quickly arranged for seagoing purposes or. for redemanded. And when navigatingrestricted waters as described, the advantages of having the mooring elements mountedupon an open deck as illustrated, is very evident as for instance,

' '1 in passing through a canal lock. When the Water is at its lowest stage in the lock the mooring lines from the vessel must extend to a point often twenty or thirty feet above the deck of the vessel and in which case lines reaching to the opposite side of the vessel to thatof the dock are resorted to. Then againthe reverse condition exists when the deck of the vessel is considerably above the lock during the higher stages of water, all of which demands a free, open and accessi ble arrangement of mooring elements and yet vertically unobstructive as produced in our improved vessel.

Thus it is seen that we produce a vessel of great carrying capacity with all necessary seaworthiness and at the same time one that can be quickly transformed into a vessel of light draft, free from superstructure and admirable for inland navigation which will enable such vessels to unobstructably carry on a combined canal and lake-wise line of transportation.

Having thus described our invention, .What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vessel of the character described,

comprising hull, vertically removable the greatest clearance possible may be provided against the vessel having to pass be-I neath low fixed structures.

3. A vessel comprising, a hull having a depressed or stepped working d-eckat the for ward end of the hull .andvertically removable s ectionalsuperstructures at the oppo-f site end of the hull to enable the vessel to navigate both upon rough waters and to pass under low bridges in more quiet and confined waters such as canals and the like. 4:. A navigable vessel, comprising a hull having stepped ordepressed workingdecks at the forward and rear ends thereof and removable superstructur es carried. upon both ends of the vessel. 4 i

5. A vessel of the character described, comprising a hull, a vertically removable superstructure, and a depressed working deck and means carried by the deck forconsis trollingthevesseland in a plane below the main deck.

6. Avesselof the character described,.com-

prising a hull, avertically removable super structure, a movable smoke-stack,. a depressed deck and means carried by the deck for controlling the vessel and in a plane below the upper deck. 7 i

7. A navigable vessel, comprising a hull ioo having an upper deck, a depressed forward deck, a rear raised deck propelling means below the raised deck, and a. depressed rear deck. n v

8. A vessel comprising a hull having an upper deck a depressed forward working deck, a rear raised deck, and adepressed rear deck below a plane with the upper deck.

. iio

9. A vessel, comprising a hull havingan upper deck, a depressedforward deck, a rear raised upper deck, propelling power below the rear raised deck, a vertically movable superstructureand a depressed deckin rear of the raised deck.

10. A vessel comprising a hull having an upper deck, a depressed forward working I deck, a rear raised upper deckhaving propelling power below the same, a-smokestack adapted to fold into a depression in the rear raised deck,a vertically movable superstructure, and adepressedi deck in rear-of the raised deck. 1 P

11. A navigable vessel comprising a hull having-an upper deck, a-depressed forward 7 working deck, a movable superstructure car end of the hull and vertically removable means upon the deck of the hull for removing the superstructures.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aifix 15 our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER MCDOUGALL, ALEXANDER MILLER MCDOUGALL. Witnesses:

NORMAN E. LANLAND. S- Gno. STEVENS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

